Road to Success

The Department’s graduate program prepares students for careers as clinicians and school psychologists. The employment rate for graduates from the last five years is nearly 100%.

Undergraduate Studies

At the undergraduate level the Department offers a major in Psychology, as well as a minor and collateral. The Department aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the science of human behavior and well developed critical thinking skills, which are useful for a wide range of careers and graduate programs.

A Rich Heritage

The Psychology Department prides itself on serving the people of South Carolina by training strong undergraduate majors, Specialists in School Psychology, and masters-level Clinical/Counseling Psychologists.

Dedicated Faculty

The Department boasts 10 full-time faculty members who strive to effectively educate students via extracurricular research and outreach opportunities, small class sizes, and mentoring relationships.

The Graduate Program

The Department offers an M.S. degree in Applied Psychology (Clinical/Counseling) and a Specialist in School Psychology (S.S.P.) degree. Small class sizes and rich, hands-on practicum and internship opportunities prepare students for professional careers.

LATEST NEWS

ADVISING & PRIORITY PRE-REGISTRATION: Be sure to check your Adviser's office door to sign up for an advising time. Advising & Priority Pre-Registration begins on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 and runs through Friday, April 3, 2015.

NEW VERSION OF THE PRAXIS: The Educational Testing Service (ETS) recently announced the release of a new version of the Praxis School Psychologist test (5402) which will be administered beginning in September, 2014. Registration for the new exam will be available July 21.Praxis School Psychologist Study Companion 5402

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HISTORY

The Department of Psychology, then called the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy, was one of the original academic departments at the founding of Francis Marion College in 1970. There were no plans to offer graduate education at FMU until community mental health practitioners expressed interest in advanced training; as a result, the Departments of Psychology and Sociology began in 1976 to offer a sequence of five applied courses termed the “Paraprofessional Option.” These programs have grown a great deal since 1976; however, small class sizes, close mentorship, and hands-on training remain a priority. Currently, the Department offers a rigorous undergraduate major in Psychology, as well as graduate degrees in Applied Psychology (Clinical/Counseling) and School Psychology.

GRADUATE STUDIES

The Psychology Department offers a M.S. degree in Applied Psychology (Clinical/Counseling) and a Specialist in School Psychology degree (S.S.P.). Students in School Psychology earn a Master of Science (M.S.) degree en route to the S.S.P. degree; the School Psychology Option does not offer a terminal M.S. degree. S.S.P. graduates typically go on to become school psychologists and earn LPES licensure in South Carolina. M.S. (clinical/counseling) graduates are eligible to be licensed as LPC’s in South Carolina, and they are employable in a variety of settings.